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Hello!Thanks for stopping by! There's lots of great information here to help you get oriented to how counseling with me can look. Of course everyone's story is different - so our time together will be based on what you need and not simply a format or formula. There's a list of many ways I work with clients listed below- but by no means is it an exhaustive list. If you're curious and your particular situation isn't listed... please reach out. Chances are, I could help with that too.
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scheduling
- I have a variety of days and times available from morning until late in the evening, to help accommodate client needs. I do all of my own scheduling so the easiest way to book an appointment is online. Click on the scheduling button above to view available time slots and get yourself set up. Evening appointments book up quickly, and I am in most nights fairly late... so if that is your booking preference, I recommend booking as many appointments in advance as you feel necessary.
- If you have trouble booking through the link, or would just like to discuss something further before booking, feel free to give me a call or click here to email me.
payment
- A standard counseling session is 50 minutes, and the cost is $125 per session.
- I accept cash, checks, debit/credit cards and health savings account cards.
- To focus fully on my work with clients, I have opted out of insurance networks, but I can participate as an "out of network" provider. This means you pay my regular fee, and I can provide you with a receipt that has all the diagnostic information necessary for you to file and possibly get a rebate from your insurance company - based on your plan.
"I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing, and I know that grace rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside."
― Wm. Paul Young, The Shack
credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP)
education
- B.S. in Psychology, UT Chattanooga, 2013
- M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Richmont Graduate University, 2016
memberships
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- International Society for Neurofeedback Research (ISNR)
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Certifications
- Level 2 Clinical Training, Gottman Couples Method
- Neurofeedback Trained Technician
individual counseling for...
- Depression, Anxiety, Grief
- Body Image Issues
- Identity, Sense of Self
- Women's Issues
- Acute and PTSD (Trauma is any negative event that changes you and the way you see your world)
- Faith and Spirituality Questions
- Parenting Adult Children
- Childhood Trauma
- Emotional Abuse
- Codependency
- Gender and Sexuality
- Recovery
- Life Transitions
- Relationship Issues
- Personal Growth
- Life after...
- Gaining Emotional Stability
- Understanding your anger
- Living a Life of Mindfulness
- Difficult work and home environments
- Parenting teenagers
- Empty Nesting
- Finding your voice
- Boundaries
couples
- Pre-Marital Counseling
- Parenting when life is hard
- Communications Issues
- Adolescents
- Blended Families
- Infidelity
workshops and psychoeducation
I've led groups, workshops, and talks on boundaries, mindfulness and the benefits of neurofeedback in treatment of ADHD, depression and anxiety. Let me know if you'd like me to speak at your event!
a little more about me...
I wasn't always a therapist.
I started out as a stay at home mom, who became a single mom, who became a corporate manager, who became a therapist. That's the very, very shortened version of the story of course.
Wrapped up in those vague details are relationships and lessons and life that led me here. It may sound a bit dramatic saying I was meant for this work, but I believe that the journey I've been on has helped me understand the pain of trauma and the depth of loss that brought me right here. Life experience paired with education gives me the insight needed to be effective.
Speaking of education... I knew that the brain and trauma treatment had to be part of whatever program I entered. I understood that we are body, mind and spirit and I wanted to understand as much of the science and psychology of that as I could- so that I could help the 'whole' person. My Master's degree program offered in addition to my counseling program, a certificate in trauma that has been invaluable in understanding how deeply our brains and bodies are impacted by our wounds. Being able to see healing and peace come where only ruins and pain were before- is a gift. I'm also a mom of two incredible now adult children. Wait, what?!
How did that happen?
So I've been through the terrible twos, and know how hard it is juggling being a new mom with the reality of how we are responsible for little hearts, and it's terrifying! I've lived through Middle School. I can stop there, right? I've navigated waters of relationships and allowing space for mistakes and back-talk and sometimes broken hearts...theirs and mine.
We came close to losing our son suddenly to an illness that left us all different people. Parenting can be brutal.
I've also gone through my own spiritual journey that has continued throughout the majority of my adult life. I've found that the questions and mystery aren't so scary anymore... maybe even part of the lesson? Being raised in the church and receiving an education on how that impacts us is important. For some that's an essential part of their experience and must be part of the discussion. Others find it is at the core of their suffering, and to ignore that reality would be dishonoring to the truth of their story. Faith is easy and straight forward for some... and for most of my life growing up, that was the case. But 'easy' didn't fit after my 'answers' no longer felt like answers.
I am remarried to my very best friend and realize that thriving as a couple means work, and intention, and understanding, and honoring the heart of each other. The loss of my first marriage and the pain and shame of that divorce has given me a heart that recognizes what a gift connection is. My work is diverse and layered and beautiful and meaningful.
I started out as a stay at home mom, who became a single mom, who became a corporate manager, who became a therapist. That's the very, very shortened version of the story of course.
Wrapped up in those vague details are relationships and lessons and life that led me here. It may sound a bit dramatic saying I was meant for this work, but I believe that the journey I've been on has helped me understand the pain of trauma and the depth of loss that brought me right here. Life experience paired with education gives me the insight needed to be effective.
Speaking of education... I knew that the brain and trauma treatment had to be part of whatever program I entered. I understood that we are body, mind and spirit and I wanted to understand as much of the science and psychology of that as I could- so that I could help the 'whole' person. My Master's degree program offered in addition to my counseling program, a certificate in trauma that has been invaluable in understanding how deeply our brains and bodies are impacted by our wounds. Being able to see healing and peace come where only ruins and pain were before- is a gift. I'm also a mom of two incredible now adult children. Wait, what?!
How did that happen?
So I've been through the terrible twos, and know how hard it is juggling being a new mom with the reality of how we are responsible for little hearts, and it's terrifying! I've lived through Middle School. I can stop there, right? I've navigated waters of relationships and allowing space for mistakes and back-talk and sometimes broken hearts...theirs and mine.
We came close to losing our son suddenly to an illness that left us all different people. Parenting can be brutal.
I've also gone through my own spiritual journey that has continued throughout the majority of my adult life. I've found that the questions and mystery aren't so scary anymore... maybe even part of the lesson? Being raised in the church and receiving an education on how that impacts us is important. For some that's an essential part of their experience and must be part of the discussion. Others find it is at the core of their suffering, and to ignore that reality would be dishonoring to the truth of their story. Faith is easy and straight forward for some... and for most of my life growing up, that was the case. But 'easy' didn't fit after my 'answers' no longer felt like answers.
I am remarried to my very best friend and realize that thriving as a couple means work, and intention, and understanding, and honoring the heart of each other. The loss of my first marriage and the pain and shame of that divorce has given me a heart that recognizes what a gift connection is. My work is diverse and layered and beautiful and meaningful.
Some clients need a safe space to simply tell their story without shame or fear.
Some clients find themselves caught in patterns of dysfunction and just want to stop the cycle.
Other clients are depressed or anxious, or both, and desperately want to feel better, and sense that there may be something going on that they need to understand. Some of my amazing clients have not been able to be who they know deep down that they are- and need to work through understanding how they might walk in the freedom of their truth. Some people walk in the door with no idea what in the world this is going to look like but something tells them... this step is the right one.
I seriously love the work that I do. This is sacred space we hold. I don't view my clients as broken. I won't view you as broken. Sure, we may *feel* broken and we certainly have some messed up stuff that we can't deny but we... we're not broken. We are here and we have a story.
Things have happened that have created places in us that need attention. Like a splinter under the skin. You may think it's gone- but it's still tender and that lets us know something is there.
Some wounds are deep and we see the ways it's impacted us. It can be hard and messy and complicated- but you're not broken. Maybe part of our work is to help you see that.
Some clients find themselves caught in patterns of dysfunction and just want to stop the cycle.
Other clients are depressed or anxious, or both, and desperately want to feel better, and sense that there may be something going on that they need to understand. Some of my amazing clients have not been able to be who they know deep down that they are- and need to work through understanding how they might walk in the freedom of their truth. Some people walk in the door with no idea what in the world this is going to look like but something tells them... this step is the right one.
I seriously love the work that I do. This is sacred space we hold. I don't view my clients as broken. I won't view you as broken. Sure, we may *feel* broken and we certainly have some messed up stuff that we can't deny but we... we're not broken. We are here and we have a story.
Things have happened that have created places in us that need attention. Like a splinter under the skin. You may think it's gone- but it's still tender and that lets us know something is there.
Some wounds are deep and we see the ways it's impacted us. It can be hard and messy and complicated- but you're not broken. Maybe part of our work is to help you see that.
A Personal Message to You...
Hi there! I understand how challenging finding a therapist can be, and I hope you've gotten some good information here that can help answer some questions about how counseling with me may look. One thing I would like to add that may seem obvious, but I think is still worth mentioning is that you can count on me bringing my whole self into the counseling room. That means I will be real with you. You are incredibly brave to share parts of your self with me and I promise that as you do that for me- I will show up for you. We will probably laugh. We may cry. But know that any time spent is regarded as sacred to me. I'm not afraid to get into the trenches with you. Whatever choice you make in taking this next step in your journey, I hope you find someone who you truly connect with and who gets you. It's important that they get you.
I would be honored to have the chance to meet you, and I hope to hear from you soon. ~Chas
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-JXOnFOXQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHPNMIK-fY
I would be honored to have the chance to meet you, and I hope to hear from you soon. ~Chas
Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-JXOnFOXQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHPNMIK-fY
